4 Best Restaurants in Dublin, Ireland

Stunning views over Howth Harbor are your first reward for choosing this impressive seafood restaurant located in the old yacht club building only a few yards from where local fishermen still land their catch. The open, modern interior is awash with light that pours in the huge windows—definitely get a seat beside one of these. There's a daring touch given to local seafood with specialties like fresh crab spring roll with tuna tataki. Castletownbere seared scallops is a house favorite, and the chowder here is a classic; they even do a mean loin of Wicklow spring lamb rack if you're all fished out.

Joan and Aidan MacManus's well-known seafood bar down by the harbor attracts many contemporary visitors to the old town. It's in a Georgian house, with the yacht marina and port on one side and sea views from which you can watch the boats land the very fish that might be tomorrow's special. A house specialty is the smoked haddock smokies, but lobster, caught just yards away in Balscadden Bay, is the big treat—it's best at its simplest, in butter sauce. Sitric was an 11th-century Norse king of Dublin who seemed to be very fond of Howth.

It's all about the seafood at this small family restaurant a little way outside the Southside city center. The atmosphere is warm and übercasual, and the fish is fresh off the boat from nearby Dublin Bay. Try the John Dory fritti with garlic and chili dressing, followed by lemon sole with lobster fish cakes, tender stem broccoli and garlic butter. The homemade chips are a delight.